Adair County >> 1884 Index

History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.

Adair County

Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl

Christian Augustine - In 1856 Christian Augustine came to Grand River township, and settled on section 29, where he took up a claim. He is still a resident of the township.

John Augustine, in the spring of 1855, settled upon section 19 [Grand River township]. This was about the 1st of May, and after building a log cabin, he set to work to open up a farm. Here he lived until 1871, when he removed to Creston, and engaged in the business of blacksmithing. In 1881 he returned to Adair county, and now lives on section 35, in Union townsihp. He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born July 3, 1828, and is the son of Henry and Phoebe Augustine. He came to America with his parents in 1836, and settling in Ashland county, Ohio, they remained there seventeen years. After three years' residence in Woodford county, Illinois, he came to this county as above. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary Kissinger, and they have six children living-- Henry, Benjamin F., Anna, Agnes, Ellen and Bertha. Mr. Augustine has been one of the prominent men of the county, and served one term on the board of supervisors.

Calvin Ballard was born on a farm, where he was raised, near Indianapolis, Indiana. He came to Fontanelle in 1856, and occupied a small building erected by J. K. Valentine as a store, and was the pioneer merchant of the county. In 1857 he erected a new store building, now used by P. McDermid, 10x30 feet in size, two stories high, in which he ran a general store. In 1860 he removed to Winterset, where he entered into business. After a time he sold out and moved back to Indiana, where he resided on a farm. His wife died while he was there. He returned to Winterset, and is now engaged in trade in that place. Since his second coming to Winterset he has been married to the widow of a Presbyterian minister. Mr. B. has always borne the reputation of a suave, square, enterprising man, and is of liberal principles.

Francis M. Bates, a native of New York state, was born on the 1st of September, 1836, and is the son of Nelson and Amanda (Alexander) Bates. When quite young he removed to Illinois, but soon returned to his native state. He received a good education in the common schools of New York, but when he was about sixteen years of age he was not satisfied with his learning, and was sent to the academy in Lowville, lewis county. He was classed among the students for two terms when he became a teacher, and after teaching several terms he came to Wisconsin, where he attended Milton college for two or three years, when he graduated on the 5th of July, 1864. Previous to this he taught in the high school at Clinton Junction, Rock county. He was married in August, 1864, to Miss Hettie Guild, a daughter of Aaron D. Guild. She died in May, 1878, and was buried in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, leaving two children--Frank M. and Grace E. He was again married in September, 1882, in Fontanelle, to Miss Anna Bell, by whom he has had one child--Rilla L. Mr. Bates enlisted in 1864, in the 10th New York heavy artillery, and was in the engagements at Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fort Steadman, Petersburg, and several others. He was discharged on the 19th of June, 1865, and went to Petersburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent about two years, when he moved to Bloomsburg, Pennsyulvania, where he took charge of the high school in Danville, which position he held four years, when he became principal of the high school at Shamokin, and after one year was elected city superintendent of the schools, which position he held about three years. In September, 1880, he gave up teaching, and came to Fontanelle, and was elected principal of the schools for one year, then was appointed deputy surveyor, which position he held until the fall of 1883, when he was elected surveyor of Adair county. Mr. Bates is a member of the Masonic order, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, he having formerly been a Presbyterian.

Martin L. Beaman, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Murphy) Beaman, natives of North Carolina, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, October 17, 1843. In the fall of 1865 he came to Adair county, and in 1879 located on his present farm [Harrison township]. During the period from 1866 to 1869 he was engaged in the manufacture of shingles, cutting seven thousand per day. he was married in Madison county, June 12, 1879, to Ida V. Stowell. They have two children -- Alma and Vernon. He has a farm of three hundred and three acres (two hundred and ninety improved), and deals quite extensively in shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. At present he has forty-seven head of cattle, with a thoroughbred animal at the head of the herd. he also has a fine French Canadian stallion. He has been assessor for four years.

John Burr was born in Sullivan county, New York, on the 21st day of March, 1827. He moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1854, and to his present location in Adair county in 1876, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 6 and 7, Walnut township. His farm is all under cultivation, and he has a good grove and excellent barn, and deals in fine cattle, having over sixty head of cattle and several Clydesdale horses. Mr. Burr was married on the 8th of March, 1854, to Miss Martha Hill, a daughter of Philo Hill. They have six children living--William, Edward B., Frank E., Hattie May, Elida P. and Clara Belle.

Edward S. Chenoweth, the present county recorder, was elected to his present office in 1882, from Lee township, where he came in 1876. He was born in Warren county, Indiana, on the 7th of September, 1852. In 1869 his family came to Louisa county, Iowa, and there he was engaged in teaching school until 1876, when he came to this county, and located in lee township, where he now owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He was united in marriage in March, 1877, to Miss Maggie A. Knox, a native of Ohio. He held the office of township clerk of Lee township, in 1880 and 1881; and he is now a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Chenoweth is one of those men who has the ambition to rise in the world, and has amply succeeded. He has given great satifaction in his work, and has received the honor and trust of the people.

Miss Mary Childs was the next superintendent of schools of Adair county, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1873, and served two years. This was the only lady who has filled an official position in this county. Miss Mary Childs was a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and first saw the light on the 1st of September, 1841. She was the daughter of Samuel A. and Jane E. (Chapin) Childs, and was a sister of B. F. Childs, now living in Grand River township. She came to Adair county in 1871, and was elected county superintendent of common schools as above on the republican ticket, and served two years. Just at the close of her term of office she was married to A. M. Childs, and died at Creston, Union county, on the 17th of January, 1879. Her husband now resides in Des Moines.

H. H. Colwell was born at Concord, Erie county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1847, from which place his parents removed when he was two years old to Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided about eight years and again removed to Mower county, Minnesota. Here they lived for about eighteen years and at Austin, in this county. The subject of this notice at the age of fourteen years entered the office of the Minnesota Courier as an apprentice. He succeeded in the "art preservative" so well that at the end of about a year and a half the editor came to him one day and said: "Henry, I have enlisted for three years, or during the war, and I want you to run the office while I am gone." In two weeks he departed and the burden of conducting a poorly paying county newspaper fell upon young shoulders. Suffice it to say, the newspaper made its regular appearance with H. H. Colwell as editor and manager for nearly a year, when an order was received to discontinue the paper as the material had been sold. This was a relief to the young newspaper man, who had worked hard for small pay, and who had been repeatedly advised to close the business up, but who, from his bringing up and persevering will, knew no such word as "fail," and would probably have been running the office yet if he had not had orders to the contrary. He then worked at his trade in different parts of the state, until about the year 1870, when he, in company with his brother, A. N. Colwell, established at Austin, Minnesota, the Mower County Transcript, which, in the face of strong opposition, they successfully conducted for two years, and the paper is now one of the most influentail in Southern Minnesota. In 1875 he removed with his widowed mother to Fontanelle, and secured the position of foremen of the Adair County Register, where he remained until the removal of the county seat, when he removed the the paper to Stuart, where he remained some two years, when he received a liberal offer from the proprietor of the Bismarck (Dakota) Tribue (who was an old Minnesota friend), to take a half-interest in that paper, or to act as foreman. He went to Bismorck and remained a year, but being strongly urged by his mother, who was getting quite old and feeble, he returned to Stuart where he, in company with J. J. Davies, established and successfully conducted for about two years the Stuart Ledger, when, upon receiving a liberal offer, they sold out. He then returned to Fontanelle and assumed the mechanical management of the Observer, where he now is and which position he has held for the past two years. Altogheter he has been in the printing business, almost without intermission for twenty-three years, and is still blessed with that best of friends, a mother, for whom he has earnestly striven to make the downward path of life as easy and bright as possible.

E. D. Correll is a native of Pennsylvania , born in Fulton county, December 31, 1845 , from which county he enlisted in the United States service October, 1862, being then only about seventeen years old. He was in the cavalry, Company M, 21st regiment. He remained in service three months and again enlisted February, 1864, in Company K, 22d cavalry. In this company he remained till the close of the war, was in battles of Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, and with Sheridan in his Shenandoah campaign, was fortunate in not being wounded, although sometimes being in great danger. After his discharge he returned to Pennsylvania and resumed his labor on the farm there till 1867, after which he went to Adams county, Illinois . He remained till February, 1878, when he removed to Andubon county, Iowa . Mr. Correll owns a nice farm in Audubon and Guthrie county, but is engaged as an exclusive business in the meat market in Adair. His father is George Correll, a native of Fulton county, Pennsylvania , where he still lives; mother, Rachel Daniels, also a native of Fulton county. The subject of this sketch was married May 2, 1871 , to Miss Margaret A. Beer, a native of Cambria county, Pennsylvania , and they have four children--Willie, Frank, Flora, and Nellie.

A. R. Dew, the next county surveyor, was elected in the fall of 1873, and entered upon the discharge of his duties January 1, 1874, serving until April, 1875, when he resigned. He is a native of Ohio, born at Martin's Ferry, Belmont county, May 5, 1851, and is the son of John M. and F. H. (Ray) Dew. When Albert was but two years old his parents moved to Tuscarawas county, where, after a two years' sojourn here, they returned to McDonough county, Illinois. Here he was raised and educated until 1865, when the family moved to Knox county in the same state and remained some five years. In 1871 he came to Adair county, and at first attempted to run a photograph gallery but gave that up and entered the Transcript office as a typo. Between this business and clerking, varied by a summer jaunt to the Black Hills, he passed the time until January 1, 1882, when he was appointed deputy auditor, a position he holds at present. He was united in marriage on the 23d of December, 1872, with Miss Rachel M. Myers.

E.C. Dorsey was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 18, 1825, and was the son of William H. and Catharine A. Dorsey. When seven years of age he went with his parents to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and when eighteen years old learned the carpenter's trade. After a residence in Ohio and Illinois he came to Johnson county, Iowa, and in March, 1877, came to this township [Grove], and in 1883 purchased his present place. He was married January 16, 1845, to May A. Bryson, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and has eleven children living and two dead; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and republican in politics.

James Ewing was elected as the successor of Mr. Barrows [as county superintendent of schools], in the fall of 1863. James S. Ewing was a native of Champaign county, Ohio, born about 1830. He was the eldest of the family that arrived at maturity. He was always a farmer, but in his younger days taught school in his native state. He removed to Iowa in 1854, and to Adair county in the spring of 1855, and settled on a farm in Richland township, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land. His wife was Miss Margeret Evans, a native of Wales, by whom he had a large family of children, living on the old homestead in Richland township. Mr. Ewing held the position of school superintendent as above stated, and took great interest in all public affairs although not much of a politician. Was an active worker in all church matters and was highly respected by all who knew him. He died in February, 1881, on the farm, and is interred in the cemetery in Richland township.

Thomas Ewing - In the spring of 1855 Thomas Ewing came [to Richland township.] He was accompanied by James Ewing. Among the early settlers of 1855 is found James Ewing, who came to Richland township, Adair county, in that year. His widow, Sarah Ewing, nee Evans, was the daughter of Even and Mary (Probert) Evans, and was born in Wales, July 10, 1832. James Ewing was born in Ohio, February 29, 1828, and died on his farm in Adair county, February 22, 1881. He was the son of Joshua and Sarah Ewing. They had seven children--Sarah M., Winfield Scott, Eliza W., Salina J., John a., Anna S., and Edward J.

John Gilson came to this county in August, 1850, and located on what is now known as the McGinnis farm, in Jefferson township, where he lived some five years, and removed to Harrison township and made the Joseph Miller place. Here he remained a couple of years, when he emigrated to Warren county. He removed from there to Nebraska, but returned to this state and is now living in Quincy, Adams county. He was born on the 4th of July, 1816, in Oswego county, New York. In 1844 he came to Dubuque, where he resided until he came here. Although an old man in years, still he is quite active, and is engaged in traveling and selling books, and gets around as sprightly as a young man.

George Grimma was the third to make a settlement [in Grand River Township], coming from Keokuk county, Iowa, to this township and locating upon section 27, in October 1855. He resided on this place until the day of his death, September 18, 1879. His wife is still living, with a son, on the old homestead.

James N. Haddock, clerk of the court, is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the son of John and Eleanor (McBride) Haddock. He was the third child of a family of six children, and in 1858 he came to Iowa City, Iowa, and was there engaged in the study of law, and was so engaged until 1861, when he returned to Philadelphia and served three months on guard duty. In 1865 he returned to Iowa, where he completed his law course, and attended the law department of the state university, attending one term when he was admitted to the bar. He practiced at his profession some time, when he came to Fontanelle, Adair county, where he began to practice with J. H. Bailey, and so continued until 1877, when the partnership was dissolved. In 1878 he was elected clerk of the court, and has held that position ever since. He has been one of the substantial men of the county, and is one of the highest and estimable officers in the county. He was married to Miss Anna J. Seniley, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children--Nellie J., George C., W. Rush and Frank. Mr. Haddock is a member of the Masonic order, and was formerly a member of the United Presbyterian church.

W. B. Hall was elected to the office of clerk of the court in 1858. In the regular election of 1860 A. D. Littleton, his competitor for this office, received ten votes in majority over Mr. Hall, but upon the latter gentleman contesting the case, Mr. Hall was left in possession. He was again re-elected in 1862, 1864 and 1866, thus serving ten years in this capacity. W. B. Hall was born on the 31st day of December, 1832, near Williamsport, Warren county, Indiana, and was educated at Crowfordsville, in the same state, under Joseph E. McDonald, now ex-senator from that state. He is the son of Daniel D. and Jane J. Hall. He was married on the 13th of March, 1853, to Miss Sarah E. Crane. He came to Adair county in the beginning of the winter of 1856, while the snow was some two feet deep upon the ground. The balance of that terrible winter he taught school in a log hut for twenty dollars per month, and walked some two miles every morning. In the fall of 1858 he was elected clerk of the courts, and served as above. In 1862 he was appointed, by the request of Hon. S. W. Armstrong, as one of the state commissioners to go to Little Rock, Arkansas, and take the soldier vote. In 1870 Mr. Hall, in company with his family, emigrated to Seattle, Washington Territory, where he at present resides.

Marx Hell, who is the subject of this sketch is one of the prominent men of this township, and is an honorable citizen. He was born on the 15th day of January, 1849, in Holstein, Germany. He emigrated to Linn county, Iowa, in June, 1868, and in the fall of 1870, he came to Summerset township, Adair county. In the spring of 1872 he went to California, where he farmed until 1875, when he returned to his old place, and in 1876, moved to Jackson township, where he was married in 1876, to Miss Adelheit Mangles, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Rugen) Mangles. They have had five children--Mary M., Margaretha D., Margaretta J. D., Adelheit F., and Claus B. Margaretha D. died in August, 1878. Mr. Hell deals in stock, and owns two hundred and fifty acres of good land, all under cultivation except ten acres of timber land. The farms are situated on sections 35 and 25. He lives on section 35, where he moved in the spring of 1879.

John J. Hetherington, of the Citizens' Bank of Greenfield, is a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was born October 1, 1841; his parents, James D. and Sarah J., were also natives of the same state. John J. passed his boyhood days in Northumberland county, and after receiving his education engaged in clerking in the mercantile business at Pottsville. March 17, 1863, he departed for Atchison, Kansas, where he spent the next four and one half months; then removed to Fontanelle, this county, where he engaged in the abstract and land business, and commenced the study of the law--the first year with S. W. Armstrong, and then with Armstrong & Hall. He was admitted to the bar in 1869. He had seen considerable service as deputy clerk when, in 1872, he was elected to the office of county clerk of court, and so well did he satisfy the people of the county that he was continued in the office three successive terms, only retiring from the duties of the position in 1879. In 1875, during his term of office, he removed to Greenfield, and there engaged in the land and abstract business, and is at the present time a partner in the abstract firm of Hetherington & McCollom. He has also filled the office of county judge, serving the unexpired term of his predecessor and one full term. He is a member of the Greenfield city council, and has been for some time. He also fills the position of assistant cashier of the citizens' bank. He is a commandery member of the Masonic lodge, and of the encampment in the I. O. O. F., and has passed chairs in the latter. He was elected county supervisor in 1871. He was married April 21, 1864, to Miss Rebecca S. Stillwell, a native of Pennsuylvania. They have four children living--Charles H., Jessie S., George B. and Bessie. Mr. Hetherington enlisted for the three months' service, April 17, 1861, in Company H, 25th Pennsylvania infantry, and served four months with his regiment. He has held many offices at the will of the county's people, and has given perfect satisfaction in all.

William Hopkins, one of the oldest settlers in Walnut township, was born in Logan county, Ohio, on the 10th of December, 1837. On the 17th of July, 1854, he moved to Winterset, Madison county, Iowa. After wandering from Winterset to Council Bluffs and several other places he came to Casey in 1868, and has lived in that vicinity ever since. He was married in Madison county, Iowa, on the 6th of August, 1863, to Miss Margaret Ralston, a daughter of Samuel Ralston. Mr. Hopkins has been trustee and clerk of the township for eight years, and has been school director for nearly twelve years.

Andrew J. Kingery was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania on the 1st of May, 1843, and is a son of Daniel and Susannah (Hoover) Kingery, both natives of Pennsylvania. His mother now resides with her daughter in Cass county, his father having died in 1874. Andrew went to Illinois when he was about two years of age, with his parents, and there remained until coming to Iowa, in 1872, and settled in Adair county [Eureka township]. He was married in February, 1869, in Illinois, to Miss Sarah Eshelman, a daughter of Martin and Elisabeth Eshelman, native of Pennsylvania. Her father died in Illinois in 1872. They have six children--William M., Ilfia J., Daniel C., Orren A., Mary E. and Luella M. They have two dead--Johnny C. and Bessie. Mr. Kingery deals in shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and has an excellent farm on which he keeps them. He enlisted in 1862, in Company I, 92d Illinois infantry. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Akins, Bainbridge and Bridgeport. He was in the last battle before the close of the war, and was mustered out at Concord in 1865. When he first came to this county deer were plentiful, and he has seen many at a time on the open prairies.

Joseph W. Leeper, the other member of the book and stationery firm of Leeper Brothers, was born November 27, 1854. He also engaged in tilling the soil on the land of his parents until coming to Greenfield to go into business. He was married July 9, 1877, to Miss Lou Blattenburg, a native of West Virginia. Both gentlemen have built for themselves an enviable name in Greenfield.

William J. Leeper, of the firm of Leeper Brothers, is a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and was born July 15, 1849. He resided there until 1866 when the family came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Jasper county. In 1880 he came to Greenfield and at once engaged in the present business. His parents are of Scotch-Irish descent, their names being John and Jeannette (McCartney) Leeper. He is a member of the U. P. church, and a respected merchant of Greenfield.

Leeper Brothers established their present business in the book, stationery, news and notion line in September, 1880, in the building now occupied by them. They sell organs, pianos, and sewing machines, besides their regular lines, and are the proprietors of the only circulating library in the city.

William C. Libbey, present sheriff of Adair county, is a native of the Hawkeye state, his father, Jesmah R. having come to Iowa at an early day, locating in Muscatine in 1839, when Iowa prairies were in a state of primitive verdure. In 1842 Mr. Libby, Sr., removed to Mahaska county, where he was one of the first settlers; and there, on December 3, 1847, William C. was born, being reared and educated near the place of his birth. In 1869 he removed to Cass county, where he farmed until 1875, when he came to this county and engaged in the hardware trade at Adair, being so occupied when elected to the office of sheriff, which position he took in January, 1880, and has been re-elected at each suceeding election, being now on his third term. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and Encampment, and has passed the chair in both. He was married January 21, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Stafford, also a native of Iowa. They have four children--Jennie, Clara B., Frank R. and Charles H. That Mr. Libby is popular in the county may be inferred from the evident determination of its people to keep him in his position.

S. K. Mallory and his son Eri, were the first to settle in the territory now known as Lee township, coming in the fall of 1857. They moved a log cabin from Grand River township onto the farm now known as Marble Grove, on section 26, where they took up their abode, this being also the first dwelling in the township. Through some sharp practice the son succeeded in getting possession of all the property belonging to his father, about a year after their settlement upon the premises, and the latter, in company with his wife, removed to Greenfield. Eri continued to farm the land some time afterward, and later sold it to a man by the name of Marble, after whom the property retains its present name, although it has changed hands several times since its purchase by Marble. After the removal of S. K. Mallory to Greenfield, he resided in rented property, and as he was quite old, nervous, and affected in various ways, rendering him unable for work, his wife attended to weaving for their support. Several years later, after his son had left the country, the old gentleman attemped suicide one Sabbath morning while his wife was at church, by clambering upon the machine used for weaving and placing a stick across a hole in the ceiling, which led to a loft above. He attached a rope to the stick and also about his neck and swung from under the machine. His wife happened home from church in time to give the alarm, and he was cut down by some of the neighbors before entirely dead, who succeeded in reviving him. They remained in Greenfield a few years afterward, when they removed to Illinois, since which time they have but seldom been heard from, and their present whereabouts are unknown.

W. D. McCollom, of the firm of Hetherington & McCollom, is a native of Windsor county, Vermont, and was born September 30, 1856, and was reared and educated in his native county. In 1872 he engaged as clerk in the drug business at Lebanon, New Hamphshire, and after holding that position for a short time, accepted a similar one at Woodstock, Vermont. He remained there till December, 1874, when he came West and located in this county, teaching the Highland school in Jefferson township. He held this position one term, and in the succeeding spring went to Fontanelle, where he attended the county normal school. He then accepted a position as assistant in the auditor's office under W. B.Martin, which he held till November, 1875, when he went East for a three months' visit to his old home. He returned to Greenfield and became deputy county surveyor, under W. A. Pryor. In July, 1876, he became deputy county auditor, which position he held until 1878, when he became county surveyor, having been elected to that office in the fall preceding. After serving the term for which he was elected he entered into the partnership with Mr. Hetherington in his present business. He was married December 25, 1877, to Miss Myra Peat, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have two children--Marian C., and Howe. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and Encampment, and at present holds the office of noble grand in the I.O.O.F.

Harry W. Moyer, the editor and proprietor of the Review, is a native of the " Old Keystone State ," Pennsylvania , and was born at Freeport , Armstrong county, on the 12th of February, 1857 . He is the son of John Moyer, born September 20, 1830 , and Emily Moyer, nee Cowell, born February 15, 1838 . Harry moved with his parents to Brownsville , Fayette county, on the 1st of September, 1864 , where he graduated from the high school of that place in 1871. After leaving school, Mr. Moyer having determined to learn the art of printing, the same year departed to Philadelphia , where he entered the office of the Sunday Leader, but only remained a short time. We next find him engaged on the Journal of Commerce, where he stayed three years, conquering the difficulties of the "art preservative." For the next four years he was employed in the office of Bavis & Pennypacker, where he was initiated into the mystries of book and job composition and presswork, in the latter of which he became very expert. He moved into Western Pennsylvania on the 13th of July, 1877 , and was employed in the job department of the Mount Pleasant Dawn, a paper published at Mount Pleasant , Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania , for two years, and subsequently was for two year more the foreman of the Sentinel, of Claysville , Washington county. Retiring from the latter position he ran a saw-mill for a couple of years, and came to Greenfield in the summer of 1883, and assisted in starting the Review, of which he is now editor.

Fayette Parsons, a practicing physician of Adair, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, on the 12th of August, 1812. He studied medicine in Benson county, Vermont, and in 1842 he graduated at Woodstock, that state. He practiced in several places until 1877, when he came to Adair county and lived on eighty acres of land in Summit township until 1880, when he came to Adair, where he has accumulated a good practice and is highly honored and respected by all. He was married in 1838 to Miss Esther F. Weaver, and was married to his present wife in 1870; her maiden name was Jane Curtis, of Fulton, New York.

Samuel W. Pryor, son of Matthew and Henrietta (Williams) Pryor, was born in Marion county, Tennessee, September 12, 1820. He lived in Marion county, Tennessee, until March, 1843, when he removed to Washington county, Missouri, where he remained about fourteen years. In the summer of 1856 he emigrated to Adair county, Iowa, arriving on 1st day of August, and settling upon section 24, Harrison township. There were no improvements on the place whatever, and he erected a small shanty in which they lived about a year, when the dwelling was much enlarged and improved. He had it enclosed and ready for occupancy, when a storm almost demolished it. he repaired the same house, in which he lived until 1876, when the fine residence they now occupy was constructed. Mr. Pryor was first married in 1846, to Mary J. Glossup, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Glossup, and five children was the result of the union--Matthew G., William A., Jonathan E., Charles H. and Sarah F. His wife died here in 1857. He was again married in 1860, in Madison county, Iowa, to Eliza A. Barnett, daughter of William and Mary Barnett. Five more children were born to them, two of whom are dead--Millie J. Julia M. and Dayton Elmer. When Mr. P. first came to Harrison, the town of Greenfield was then unknown, and he went to Madison county to mill. He has a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, all under cultivation, ten acres of which are on section 35. He has been county assessor and county surveyor since he came to this county. He brought forty head of cattle with him, and all except six or seven were frozen to death or perished with the cold during the first winter he was here. Four or five were sold in the fall; two survived the winter, or till grass came. He has experienced some hard times since his settlement in Harrison, but at present has a comfortable and pleasant home as a reward for what he has gone through. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James Raney, in 1868, was elected to this office [clerk of court], and in 1870 was re-elected. James Raney was born on the 13th of May, 1829, in Blunt county, Tennessee. He was a son of Alexander Raney, a native of South Carolina, and Elizabeth Raney, nee McFee, a Tennesseean by birth and a daughter of the Rev. Mr. McFee, the friend and coadjutor of Parson Brownlow. James had the misfortune to lose his mother before he was a year old, in Montgomery county, Indiana, whither the family had remvoed in the fall of 1829. He was the youngest of a family of six. After the death of his mother he was taken by Judge W. H. Heath, by whom he was raised, and with whom he lived until attaining manhood. When he was eighteen years old he commenced learning the trade of carpenter and joiner, and before he was twenty years of age he set up business for himself, taking contracts to put up buildings, etc. On the 2d of January, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine H. Reese, and shortly after they removed to Warren, Jo Daviess county, where he was engaged in the same line of business until the spring of 1861, when the cloud of civil war descended upon this country, and James, leaving wife and home, enlisted in Company E. 15th Illinois infantry regiment. This was one of the organizations raised under the state government, and were mustered in to the service of the same on the 10th of May, 1861. Fourteen days later the regiment was mustered into the service of the general government, and James Raney was elected captain of the company. This was under the first call for three years' volunteers. On the 6th of April, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh, the major of the regiment being killed, James Raney was commissioned to that office. In November, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and afterward was raised by brevet to that of colonel. Besides many minor engagements and skirmishes, he participated in the battle of Shiloh, advance on and siege of Corinth, battle of Hatchie, siege of Vicksburg, taking part in the charges of the 19th and 22d of June, battles of Jackson, Raymond and Champion Hills. On the 16th of January, 1864, he was compelled by sickness to forward the resignation of his commission, which was accepted some time afterward, and the colonel came home. In 1866 he gave up his business in Illinois, and came to Adair county, with the intention of farming, but on arrival here, opened a small hardware store, which he ran until the fall of 1868, when he was elected clerk of the court, as above. In the fall of 1872 he established the Register at Fontanelle, and ran it until October, 1875, when he removed with it to the rising town of Stuart, but in the following spring he sold it, and returned to his former home in Fontanelle. In January, 1881, he engaged in the purchase and shipping of grain, and in April, of the same year, commenced buying stock. The latter business he continued alone until January, 1883, when the present partnership between him and J. H. Hulbert was formed, to deal in cattle and stock in a large way. The colonel has four children living--Manly A., James F., John R. and Milton U., besides four that died in infancy. James Raney is the worshipful master of the Masonic lodge at Fontanelle, a member of the Chapter, and of Leutz Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a straight republican in politics.

August W. Rechtenbach was born in Germany, on August 1, 1831, and when fifteen years of age he came with his parents to America and settled in Bureau county, Illinois, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, until 1869, when he came to this county, locating on his present location in Jackson township, where he now owns a section of land, and raises some fine live stock. He has held the most prominent offices in the township, and is one of the most substantial citizens. He was married in September, 1852, to Miss Amelia Neindorf, a native of Germany . They have seven children living -- Theodore, John, Gustave G., Elizabeth, William, Mary (died), George H., and Louisa. Mr. Rechtenbach is a member of the Evangelical church.

Abner Root was born on the 14th of October, 1828, in Delaware county, Ohio, and is the son of Azariah and Myra (Skeeles) Root. He moved with parents to Wyandotte county, Ohio, in 1839, where he remained until 1852, when he came to Madison county , Iowa, and in 1853 he came to Adair county and settled on section 11, Jackson township, where his father built a log-cabin, in which he lived for four years. He then built a frame house on section 12, and lived there for several years. Abner was married there in April 1861, to Miss Martha Wilson, who died on the 26th of Aperil, 1869, leaving two children--Etta M. and Cora E. He was married agin in Summerset township, in May, 1870, to Miss Arminda Decker, a daughter of Abner W. Decker. They have two children--Clara and Ernest. Mr. Root enlisted in Company I, 4th Iowa cavalry, on the 29th of December, 1862, and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, in August, 1865. He was with Sherman through Mississippi, and at the battle of Guntown, in the great Price raid and in many other engagements. After the war he returned home on section 12, where he remained about two years, when he was elected sheriff the second time, when he went to Fontanelle and served his term of office, and in 1876 he came to his present location on section 36 in Eureka township and built his residence, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land all under cultivation, and has an orchard with about one hundred bearing trees. He has been sheriff and township assessor, and is present trustee and a member of the school board. He was the first sheriff of Adair county and was elected to a number of township offices but would not serve. He is a member of the Fontanelle lodge, No. 138, and has held all of the offices except master; also a member of Lentz Post, G. A. R.

Frank W. Sargent, a son of James and Lucinda (Hetherington) Sargent, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 27th day of September, 1858. In 1866 his parents moved to Delaware county, and on the 21st of September, 1876, came to Adair county and camped on their present farm until they built a cabin 10x16. They own one hundred and twenty acres on section 17 [Prussia township], where they now have a compfortable residence so situated as to give a commanding view of Greenfield and Fontanelle. They have a nice grove and their yard is beautified by shrubbery, having a number of evergreens. Everything about the farm shows good management, having convenient pastures, among which is a hog pasture, they paying particular attention to hog-raising. Frank is the manager of their creamery which has been in operation on their farm for some two years. They also own a tract of land in Nebraska which they run in connection with their business here. Frank is a very popular young man, unmarried, and is a member of Company B, of Greenfield.

J. E. Savage, a resident on section 10 [Grand River township], was born in Augusta, Maine, on the 24th of December, 1827.  He was the sixth child of a family of eight children, and was also the son of John and Nancy (Morrill) Savage.  In 1850 he removed to Steuben county, New York, where he was engaged in the lumbering business for several years, and in 1860 he moved to Henry county, Iowa, and 1861 enlisted in Company I, 14th Iowa infantry, and was taken prisoner at Shiloh, and was in the Libby prison for a short time.  He was afterward discharged, and after several months came to this county, settling on his present farm, which contains one hundred and twenty acres of good land, which is all nicely improved.  He was married in the fall of 1866, to Miss Charlotte I Collins, by whom he has had four children--Flora L., Edgar E., John E. and Willie O.

Walter Scholes, of the firm of Scholes Brothers, is a native of Marshall county, Illinois, and was born August 18, 1851. His parents were George and Lala (Wilmot) Scholes. His father is a native of England, and his mother of New York state, and they are now living in Marshall county, Illinois. On leaving Illinois Walter came direct to Greenfield, locating here in December, 1878. He went back to Illinois in June, 1879, and there married Miss Rebecca Lowden, the Reverend William Tracy officiating at the cermony. They have one child, whose name is Jay W. Mr. Scholes is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is affiliated with the republican party.

William Scholes is a brother of Walter, and is the other member of the firm of Scholes Brothers. He came to Iowa at the same time, and his fortunes have been closely identified with those of his brother. He was married in January, 1882, in Greenfield to Miss Lilian A. Gibbs, Reverend J.F. Martin officiating at the ceremony which united them.. They have one child -- Walter Lyle. Mr. Scholes is also a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is strongly republican.

John Schweers was born in Hanover Germany, on the 15th of January, 1837, and is the son of William and Margaret Schweers. When five years of age he left his native land and came to America with his parents. His father came to Adair county in 1854, where John has since resided. He was reared and educated on a farm, and in 1858 he operated a saw-mill on Grand River, which he worked in for two years. In 1862 he enlisted in the 4th Iowa cavalry, and served for three years. In 1867 he came to his present farm on section 4, Union township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, and is known as one of the best farmers in the county. On the 20th of March, 1864, he was married to Miss Sarah Peterson. Their union has been blessed by ten children - Rhinehart, Elizabeth, John A., Mattie J., Hannah D., Christian, Eva Lena, Anna S., Amy E. and Francis M.

William Schweers settled in this township [Union], on section 34, in 1854. He was a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born on the 5th of July, 1803. He was a son of Rheinhardt Schweers, a man of substance in his native land. He left his fatherland in 1842, and came to America, and for a while lived at Baltimore; from thence moved to Cincinnati, and then to Washington county, Iowa, where he remained one year, and after two years spent in Keokuk county, came to Adair county. He died on 7th of September, 1882. His son, John Schweers, is one of the most prominent men in the township.

Abram F. Smith, a son of Tunis and Mary A. (Jacques) Smith, was born in New York City on the 4th of October, 1836. He came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1860, and to Richland township in 1870, settling on section 4, where he is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of improved land. He was married on the 31st day of December, 1867, to Miss Mattie A. Rice, a daughter of Dennis and Charlotte (Raub) Rice. They have three children--Stella, Lester and Lulu. Mr. Smith has been town clerk and president of the school board. He enlisted at Muscatine, Iowa, in Company B, 35th Iowa infantry, and was discharged in April, 1865, at Davenport. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and also took part in a number of skirmishes. He was detailed in the quartermaster's department for one year. Mr. Smith was a beautiful site for his farm, which is located four and a half miles from Fontanelle, on the divide south of the Nodaway. He has a commodious residence and has a bearing orchard and the different kinds of small fruit. By occupation he is a farmer and stock-raiser, his stock being good.

Charles Smith, one of the pioneer settlers of Walnut township, emigrated with his family from Marion county, Indiana, to his present residence on section 4, in October, 1855. Charles Smith is a native of Chatham county, North Carolina, having been born on the 11th of December, 1821, and is the son of Eli and Rebecca (Stinson) Smith. In 1851 he moved to Marion county, Indiana, and in 1855 he moved to Adair county, Iowa, and in 1856 moved to his present location on section 4, Walnut township. He owns eighty acres in Guthrie county, Iowa, which are under cultivation and excellently improved. He was united in marriage September 5, 1844, to Miss Spiry Thompson, a daughter of James and Mary (Mann) Thompson. They have four children living--Amanda, James Taylor, John T. and Joseph W. Mr. Smith has been school director and treasurer. His son, John T. Smith, was married on the 4th of January, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Moore, a dughter of D. C. and Olive E. (Brockway) Moore. Mrs. Smith died on the 28th of April, 1884, leaving two children--Pearl E. and an infant. John now lives with his parents, having moved there soon after his wife's death.

John J. Stinman is a native of New York city, and was born on the 11th of November, 1843. He is the son of John W. and Louisa E. (Hall) Stinman, now residents of Jackson township, Adair county. He came with his parents to Iowa when he was about thirteen years of age, and settled in Adair county. He was married on the 22d of March, 1868, in this county, to Miss Della A. Campbell, a daughter of James and Mary (Robinson) Campbell, native of Pennsylvania. They have seven children--Mary L. Lillian A., John W., Harriott M., Carl I., Fannie B. and Warren Blaine. Mr. Stinman owns eighty acres of good land, nearly improved, and has a nice orchard. When in Montgomery county, Iowa, he was tending a lime kiln, when it blew up, covering him with stone, and breaking one of his limbs in three places. He is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

George H. White - The first superintendent of schools was George H. White, who was elected in 1859. Mr. White was born in Plymton, Massachusetts, in 1825. In 1832 his parents removed to Plymonth in the same state, where he was reared until he was thirteen years old, when he shipped on a ship sailing from that port, as cabin boy, and made three voyages to Europe. In 1849, went around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, to California, where he remained two years. In 1857 he came to Nevinville, Adair county, as one of the Boston colonists, where he lived until 1863, when he removed to Des Moines, where he has resided ever since, and is engaged in the wholesale notion trade.

Christopher D. Whittaker was born in Pennsylvania, in Allegheny county, July 1, 1835. Reared on a farm until eighteen years of age. Son of Aaron and Ann (Dellenbaugh) Whittaker. His father was a native of the same county, and his mother of Switzerland. He died in Pennsylvania, and she still lives there. The subject of this sketch went to California in April, 1856, and worked in the mines there, and was quite successful in accumulating considerable of the "yellow earth." Not liking a miner's life, he concluded to return to the east in the spring of 1865, settling in the city of Pittsburgh, he learned the trade of stair-building, and worked at the same about nine years. In 1870 he came to Adair county and purchased the northeast quarter of section 30, [Lincoln township] but did not move to the place until 1875. The improvements have all been made by himself; he has about one hundred acres under cultivation, and is engaged principally in grain raising. North river cuts through the northeast corner of his farm, making this one of the best farms for the successful raising of stock. In 1884 Mr. Whittaker erected a good house, and is settled in this location permanently. Miss Dora Moore, a daughter of John Moore, became his wife December 8, 1880, and two children have blessed the union--Christopher Roscoe and Nellie May. Mr. Whittaker is one of those genial men, making friends wherever he goes, is a kind and obliging neighbor, and a man who has mind of his own.

George W. Wilkinson is a native of Jasper county, Iowa , born on the 27th of August, 1856 , and is the son of A. J. Wilkinson, a native of Indiana , now a harnessmaker in Adair. George commenced the printer's trade with the Gleaner and Herald in Jasper county, and there worked until 1872, when he bought an office in Prairie City , Iowa . He started the Prairie City News, and in 1854 he published the Mitchellville News, of Polk county. In 1876 he issued the Prairie City Echo, and after one year he operated the job office of that place. In 1882 he moved his office to Adair, and commenced issuing the Adiar News, and has since been editor of that paper. He was united in marriage in 1878, to Miss Florence E. Barr, a daughter of H. W. Barr, of Union county. They have two children--Frank A. and Milton G. Mr. Wilkinson is a substantial and trusty man, and is highly esteemed by his many friends. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F.

James K. Valentine was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on the 27th of September, 1832, and moved with his parents to Indiana, in 1836. He moved from Wea Plains, in that state to Adair county in 1856. He was married to Miss Almiretta E. Benedict, a daughter of Samuel G. and Harriet (Crane) Benedect, but who died on the 1st of November, 1855. On the 9th of August, 1857, he was married to Miss Ellen Root, who died on the 7th of November, 1864. He built the first store building in the village of Fontanelle, and the hotel known as the Pacific House, in the same place. On the 2d of September, 1866, he, for the third time, was united in marriage with Miss Cathereine Smith, who was born October 11, 1845. In April, 1875, he removed with his family to California, where his wife died May 19, 1875. He resided in Crescent City, Del Norte county, until the spring of 1881, when he removed to Renton, King county, Washington territory, where he is now living.